Best Light Blackout Curtain Reviews in 2018

We decided to test and review some of the best blackout curtains on the market. We favor the H.Versailtex 100% Blackout Shade Curtains, they offer a complete blackout at a reasonable price. If you’re trying to ensure that the set you get is perfect for your home, then let’s take a look and see what we can do when it comes time to find that ultimate set of light blackout curtains.

Bestoverallpick!

Best overall: H.Versailtex

These are our favorites of the numerous blackout curtains we looked at. They’re priced great, provide serious blackout potential, available in a wide variety of colors… we can’t stop raving about them.

1. Best Overall

H.Versailtex 100% Blackout Shade Curtains

These are a great set of curtains for nearly any home. These are true blackout curtains, and pairing them with the right header and rod will give you a serious advantage over most of the competition.

They’re created with several layers of material, which will protect from light, dampen sound, and help to keep heat in or out depending on the weather in your area. All of this together ends up adding up to a bargain when you consider the low price.

The only real issue is that they have a very heavy look to go with their incredible properties that just doesn’t fit in everyone’s home. On the other hand, they’re available in pretty much any color you can think of and you’ll quickly find out that they’re some of the best around.

Pros and Cons

Affordably priced

True blackout curtains can stop nearly 100% of light

Insulated and sound dampening as well for ultimate privacy

Come in a ton of different colors

Shiny, polyester finish doesn’t appeal to some

Large grommets at top let some light through

2. Runner Up for Best Light Blackout Curtains

NICETOWN Thermal Insulated Grommet Blackout Curtains for Bedroom

Product Rating4.5 /5

Reviewed by: Max Perzon

If the above option runs a bit too expensive for your tastes, then you might end up being quite happy with these basic blackout curtains. They’re of a similar cut, with grommets allowing for a smooth pull out, and come in a wide variety of colors as well.

They have a similar three layer design, coming with black yarn sandwiched between two other layers of material in the color of your choosing. We also like the fact that the grommets are a bit tighter, but overall we feel like they look and feel a bit cheaper than our first pick.

As basic blackout curtains they’re remarkably effective. They block out light and the insulation works well on heat and they even have a bit of a sound dampening quality to them when they’re pulled tight.

If you’re looking for an alternative to our favorites, then you may have found a slightly cheaper option with these excellent curtains. Just be aware the cost difference shows, although it doesn’t seem to effect function much.

Pros and Cons

Wide variety of different colors available

Three layer, durable construction

Grommet design for smooth pull

Super affordable

Considerably cheap look and feel

Don’t block out enough light for dark room or nursery purposes

3. Best Room Darkening Curtains

Miuco Thermal Insulated Grommet

Product Rating4 /5

Reviewed by: Max Perzon

For light dampening purposes, these richly colored drapes from Miuco are fantastic. They even have weighted bottoms to ensure that they stay in place, and they block an astounding 100% of UV and 98% of sunlight in order to ensure that you get the darkness you need.

They also come in a wide variety of sizes, which is a nice touch since they’re useful pretty much everywhere in the home. Add in that they come with fashionable tie backs in the same color as the curtains and you’ve got a clear winner. Affordable and highly light blocking, we feel these are the best option for keeping a room dark. Add in a shade behind them and you’ll be able to block nearly 100% of even direct sunlight.

If you need to keep a room dark then take a look at these Miuco drapes.

Pros and Cons

Richly colored

Blocks almost all sunlight

Weighted bottom to hold them in place

A ton of different sizes available

Grommet design means you need to measure out a couple of extra inches

A little bit heavy, make sure you have a sturdy rod

4. Best White Blackout Curtains

AmazonBasics Room Darkening

Product Rating4 /5

Reviewed by: Max Perzon

While they’re available in a bunch of different colors, AmazonBasics has one of the best white blackout curtains around. The thing is, the majority of these which are sold tend to have an off-grey or bluish tint due to the interior material.

Meanwhile, the AmazonBasics model remains entirely white. That’s great for those who need to ensure that they’re tying the room together perfectly, allowing you to enjoy the best of the best.

Of course, they’re overall great blackout curtains no matter which color you choose, but we’d recommend our first choice for most who want a different coloration.

If you’re looking for white blackout curtains, you’ll quickly find out that AmazonBasics delivers in spades. The rest of the colors in the line aren’t too shabby either.

Pros and Cons

White runs true to color

Thick curtains also insulate heat and sound

Pull along design is easy to size

Available in three different sizes

Expensive

“Industrial” look

5. Best Budget Blackout Curtains

Vangao Burgundy Red

Product Rating3.5 /5

Reviewed by: Max Perzon

If you’re looking to save some money and don’t mind cutting a couple of corners then you’ll be in love. They look and feel a bit cheap compared to the rest of our favorites, but they function just the same which is what really matters for some applications.

While we wouldn’t recommend them to those trying to keep a chic home, they’ve definitely got their advantage in being just as good at keeping sound and light out as most of the rest on our list and they come in quite a few different colors.

If you don’t mind the inferior look and feel of these curtains, they work fantastic. Great for media rooms or dark rooms, where the majority of time you don’t want light anyways

Pros and Cons

Super affordable price

Come in a ton of different colors

Machine washable

Eco-friendly manufacturing process

“Cheap” look and feel

Only available in darker colors

Who Needs Blackout Curtains?

There are a lot of ways to keep light out of a room, but one of the most stylish and easiest to use are definitely blackout curtains. Whether you want to make things dim or remove the light altogether, making the investment in the right pair can really let you change the ambience in a room. Of course, if you truly care about your home décor then not just any set is going to do it. That means a bit of research is in order.

If you’re on the fence about whether or not light dampening or blackout curtains are right for you, then you should think about some of the advantages they afford.

UV Protection

UV rays are the most harmful portion of light, and even the weakest blackout curtain will help to keep the damage to things in the interior of your home to a minimum.

If you’ve had your home for any length of time you know this is a real concern when you’ve got leather furniture in a room with large windows. Things won’t degrade as quickly as if you left them in the yard, but it happens over time.

Minimize the damage by minimizing the amount of UV which hits your things and they’ll last longer.

Energy Conservation

Surprisingly, you can actually save on your power bill with the right curtains. Windows conduct heat and maintain it for a long time while trying to achieve equilibrium with the outside air.

This means that a good set of curtains can actually end up saving you money in the long run. Heating and cooling a home is super expensive so covering your windows is a good idea.

On top of that, in hotter climates blackout curtains can keep a home from heating excessively by keeping the room from experiencing direct radiation from the sun.

Movie Rooms

Tired of glare on the TV? The right curtains can solve that problem forever. It’s also useful for smaller devices, depending on where you’re going to be spending time in the house.

On top of that, it’s basically impossible to use a projector in any room with too much ambient light. By blacking things out you can achieve a dark room and watch your favorite movies right on your wall.

Privacy

Sheer curtains can still let people see what’s going on in your home from the street. Most of us like our privacy and light dampening or blackout curtains can handle the problem readily without looking as uninviting as some of the other options out there.

They also tend to last longer than blinds or shades, which is a big step in the right direction.

Tying the Room Together

If you’re looking to upgrade those shabby curtains anyways, then you’ll be in good hands by buying a set of curtains which both improves the look of your room and is super useful.

Unlike the older models, you can actually find fairly light curtains these days that block the majority of light out rather than being stuck with the old models which weren’t all that attractive.

Make the purchase now, and get the whole room tied together… with some added utility.

Uses for Light Blackout Curtains

There are a ton of different light dimming and blacking out curtains available. They all reflect differing levels of utility, and that can make it rather difficult to figure out what you need if you’ve never had to select a curtain before.

Light Dampening Curtains

Light dampening curtains will cut out quite a bit of the light and provide some privacy instead of just being the sheer design which most people think of when they hear the words “curtain.”

Essentially, they’ll be opaque.

These are some of the most often used, and indeed many people use the phrase interchangeably with blackout curtains. For bedrooms, living rooms, and other places where you might get a bit more light than you want they can be an invaluable addition.

For the most part these provide privacy without much insulation and they definitely don’t cut out light completely.

We recommend looking into light dampening curtains for bedrooms primarily, although living rooms can also be done depending on facing, your windows, and the climate.

Insulated Curtains

Insulated curtains generally aren’t sold as light dampening curtains, but they tend to actually block out more light than them due to the multiple layers of fabric.

They’re great for rooms with particularly large windows, since they’ll be able to keep heat in and cold out during the winter. Windows are a big convective loss of heat within most households, so an investment in insulated curtains can save money.

Of course, if you don’t use them you really aren’t going to save any cash, but that’s another matter entirely.

In most homes, insulated curtains are a welcome addition to living rooms and other places where you have broad windows that directly contact outside air. They can save quite a bit of money on central air control if used properly.

True Blackout Curtains

True blackout curtains are a bit overkill for most types of room. They tend to add a super dark feel, and it’s not all that attractive when they’re in use.

On the other hand, some rooms just need the absolute limiting of light.

Media rooms, home theaters, and nurseries are good examples of places where these curtains shine. Some people even use them in photo rooms.

In order to use them to their full extent you’ll also need to make sure you have a blackout header, a wraparound curtain rod, and possibly a set of pull down blinds to make absolutely sure no light gets in.

They really aren’t the right choice for many places in the home, but when they’re utilized to their full extent they can be extremely useful pieces.

Picking Your Blackout Curtains

The first thing to determine when you’re looking into these handy home additions is whether or not you want a fully dark room or just something which is going to limit the light.

Many people still like to have some natural light filtering through, but for media rooms and other applications where eliminating as much light as possible is a big concern there are actual blackout curtains which can be highly effective.

Type of Curtain

Curtains can be separated pretty easily.

Curtains are a single layer of fabric. In the case of blackout or light filtering curtains, they’ll have their protective properties built right into the fabric itself. This often takes the form of a lining layer, but there are a few different options out there.

Curtains can be extremely light proof. They’ll provide a lighter look to the window and a lighter feel due to their single layer nature.

Drapes on the other hand are made of multiple layers of fabric. With two or more layers, they tend to be best for blackout curtains as opposed to just light dampening although they come in both varieties.

Drapes look and feel a lot heavier due to the multiple layers, and they can function as a great asset to a room in many cases, especially when displayed with rich coloration.

Your choice mostly boils down to the look that you’re going for, although we do recommend drapes for rooms where having no light is absolutely essential.

Rods

If the curtains you’re looking at come with rods, then you’ll want to make sure they’re a few inches wider than the window you’re planning on using them for. This will help to eliminate the light “halo” effect from around the corners of the window and can completely eliminate it in some instances.

The look of the rod is also important to a lot of people, but it’s relatively easy to switch them out if you love a certain pair of curtains but aren’t totally convinced with the rod.

Wraparound rods are the best option for eliminating light from coming in. They’ll bring the curtains all the way to the wall quickly and easily, in order to give you the best chance at eliminating all outside light.

Header

If you buy a complete set, make sure that your header is of the same material as the curtains. This is another vital piece which some people miss due to not thinking about it.

Blackout headers can be quite stylish and they’re readily available if the set of curtains you’re looking at doesn’t fit with them.

If you’re new to interior decorating you may be surprised at just how important this part of the process can be. The header has a huge effect on the overall impression of the room.

Material

The material which your curtains are made of does more than just keep the light out, it can also alter the entire aesthetic effect of a room. If you want to make sure that you’ve got the best looking living room on the block, it bears some thought.

Fortunately, not all blackout curtains are made of the old polyester material most of us associate with cheap hotel rooms. Indeed, that stuff is almost impossible to find outside of institutional settings.

There are a ton of different materials available, ranging from light to heavy and looser weaves to stuff that resembles tapestries. Just take it into account when you pick your curtains and you’ll be fine.

Aesthetic

We were as surprised as anyone else to find out one thing: you can find blackout curtains in white.

More importantly, you can find them in basically any color you might want. We think curtains look best in lighter colors and drapes with richer ones, but with the super wide variety of things available these days you’ll be in good hands pretty much no matter what you want.

You’ll also need to match your header and rod with the curtains, so keep that in mind if the look of the room is a big concern for you and your family.

Sizing

You’ll also have to size your curtains appropriately, particularly if you’re planning on saving money by buying them online instead of going to have a custom set prepared for many times the cost.

Size them to the curtain rod, as opposed to the window itself, especially if you’re looking to eliminate the halo effect. You may also want to allow them to overlap a little bit to stand a better chance at keeping all light out if you’re looking into true blackout curtains.

Cost

The costs of curtains are all over the place, and don’t reflect their utility so much as the styling and designer who’s created them. We’ve done our best to provide a wide variety of options, but like any sort of home décor you’re going to want to find something that balances between what you love… and what you can afford.

Conclusion

Finding the best blackout curtains can be something of a pain, but armed with the information above you should be able to find the perfect set for each room in your home. Give it a shot, these curtains are handy and the quality of life improvements you’ll enjoy can be pretty impressive overall.